When we talk about PF Chang’s recipes, their lettuce wraps is the most famous recipe of all PF Chang’s recipes. If you want to eat any recipe that is low carb, light and fast to make, then try Copycat PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe. This copycat PF Chang’s Chicken lettuce wraps recipe is delicious and easy to prepare at home. It is a combination of crispy rice noodles, ground chicken, water chestnuts, sauce and other ingredients. You can prepare this restaurant-quality dish in just twenty minutes by following some steps!
Crispy Rice Noodles
First of all, you have to fry rice noodles. Many people don’t include this ingredient in their recipes but crispy rice noodles are main ingredient of PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe. It means you have to fry rice noodles for preparing this dish. This is the additional ingredient suggested by PF Chang’s. It is easy and quick to fry these noodles. However, the main problem is to prevent these noodles from getting brown. Simply heat up some canola oil and add rice noodles in a fry pan. After flipping them, drain them on a wire rack or paper towels.
Lettuce Wrap Filling
First, combine the hoisin, sesame oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, dried ginger, rice wine vinegar, cornstarch and sriracha to prepare the lettuce wrap filling. Then put 1 Tablespoon of canola oil to a cast iron skillet or a large pan and heat it over medium-high heat. Add in the diced onion and ground chicken. Until the ground chicken is fully baked and finely minced, you have to stir and crumble the chicken.
Add prepared sauce mixture and water, then stir them. You have to saute till the sauce thickens. Add in the sliced green onions and take it off the heat.
Serve with crumbly rice noodles. To create eight individual portions (teco style), put chicken mixture and noodles into each cup.
My family’s favorite dish is Copycat PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe. My daughter asks me to cook this dish once a week. My family also like to watch the noodles fry.
Just like PF Chang’s, I used to serve PF Chang’s lettuce wraps with a sauce. You can try this dish with some chili garlic sauce and soy sauce with 1:2 ratio respectively. It is a quick, nutritious, and impressive appetizer or meal that does not dissatisfy you.
Ingredients used in PF Chang’s Chicken lettuce wraps recipe
The ingredients used in PF Chang’s Chicken lettuce wraps recipe are given below:
- 8 slices Iceberg Lettuce (keep in cup shape)
Rice Noodles
- 1 cup Canola or Vegetable Oil for Frying
- 1/2 pkg Rice Noodles
Lettuce Wrap Filling
- 1 Tbsp Canola Oil
- 2 cloves Minced Garlic
- 1 lb Ground Chicken
- 1/2 medium Yellow Onion, diced
- 1 Tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
- 1 8oz can Diced Water Chestnuts
- 1 tsp Sriracha
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1/2 tsp Dried Ginger
- 1/4 cup Hoisin Sauce
- 1 tsp Sesame Oil
- 1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 2 Green Onions, sliced
- 1 Tbsp Cornstarch
Optional Sauce for Serving
- 1 tsp Chili Garlic Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
Preparation Time: 5 Minutes
Cook Time: 15 Minutes
Total Time: 20 Minutes
Method
You should follow some steps to prepare PF Chang’s Chicken lettuce wraps. The steps are given below;
Crispy Rice Noodles
First step is to fry rice noodles. Just preheat canola oil in a fry pan over medium heat. After that add some rice noodles in the fry pan and cook. The noodles will be fried quickly so you should pay attention on the fry pan. You have to take out the noodles to drain on paper towels after both sides becomes crispy.
Lettuce Wrap Filling
- Whisk together hoisin, dried ginger, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, cornstarch and sriracha..
- Put 1 Tablespoon of canola oil on a fry pan or cast iron skillet and heat over medium temperature. Once, the oil becomes hot, add diced onion and ground chicken. You have to stir and crumble the ground chicken until the chicken is fully cooked and finely minced.
- Add water chestnuts and prepared sauce mixture. Then continue to saute until the sauce thickens. Mix them in the sliced green onions and then turn off the heat.
- Top with crunchy rice noodles. Put the chicken mixture and noodles into each lettuce cup to create eight separate taco-style portions.
Optional Sauce for Serving
Combine chili garlic and soy sauce in a small bowl. Keep aside.
Notes
PF Chang’s lettuce wrap recipe is incredibly adaptable! You can add more spices, some Cremini mushrooms or button for a better taste. The PF Chang’s version is closest to what I have mentioned in this article.
What Sauce Is Best for Lettuce Wraps?
The best sauce for PF Chang’s Chicken lettuce wraps will be a mixture of hoisin, soy, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil. This will give you a good flavor balance that has an element of sweetness, saltiness, and a little tanginess. If you wish to go for a healthier option, cut down on hoisin sauce or use an unsweetened variety. Adding chili garlic sauce gives you a mild spiciness.
Are Lettuce Wraps Healthy?
Indeed, lettuces wraps can be classified as healthy food since they have low carbohydrate content while being high in proteins. This type of food uses lettuce instead of bread or tortillas, thus saving many calories. Besides, these food items consist of lots of protein and vegetables. However, whether they are healthy food or not depends on the sauces added to the meal.
What Makes PF Chang’s Chicken lettuce So Popular?
PF Chang’s Chicken lettuce wraps are very popular due to its distinct blend of flavors and textures. It combines soft chicken, crisp water chestnuts, flavorful sauce, and crunchy lettuce. The blend of hot filling and cool lettuce gives it an appealing combination that is hard to resist.
Can You Meal Prep Lettuce Wrap Filling?
Yes, lettuce wrap filling will be suitable for meal prepping. When prepared, this dish can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat it in a pan at medium temperature without overcooking it. Keep the lettuce away from the filling to avoid making it soggy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Lettuce Wraps
Another common mistake is putting too much sauce, causing the filling to be watery. Mistakes such as overcrowding the pan, leading to improper browning of the food, failure to drain extra liquid, using warm lettuce instead of cold, are just some of the common mistakes made during the cooking process.
Best Protein Options for Lettuce Wraps
Though chicken is the most popular, you can opt to use turkey, shrimp, or even tofu in your lettuce wraps. Turkey meat will offer a lower calorie option, while shrimp will add a seafood taste, but tofu is a better choice if you’re a vegetarian.
Watch full cooking video of PF Chang’s Chicken lettuce wraps: Click Here
PF Chang’s Chicken lettuce wraps Nutrition Facts:
| Nutrient | Amount (per serving) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 320–380 kcal |
| Protein | 22–28 g |
| Carbohydrates | 14–18 g |
| Sugar | 6–9 g |
| Fat | 18–24 g |
| Saturated Fat | 3–5 g |
| Fiber | 2–4 g |
| Sodium | 700–1100 mg |
| Cholesterol | 70–95 mg |
Copycat PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Ingredients
Method
- Heat up some canola oil in a small pan over medium heat. When heated, pour some rice noodles into the pan. They will fry immediately, so you should ensure that they are turned around and removed after being fried on both sides. Take care not to burn them.
- Whisk the ingredients for the sauce together - soy sauce, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, dried ginger, minced garlic, sriracha, and cornstarch - until all the ingredients are well mixed.
- Heat the big pan or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of canola oil. Add in the chicken and onion, and stir constantly until the meat is finely chopped and almost done cooking.
- Add in the water chestnuts and sauce mixture, and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add in the green onions, and take off the heat.
- Serve over crispy rice noodles. Use the noodles and meat to stuff 8 lettuce cups.
- Combine the soy sauce and chili garlic sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What kind of lettuce is best to use for lettuce wraps?
Iceberg lettuce is the best choice for lettuce wraps because it is crisp, sturdy, and holds the filling without breaking.
Its firm leaves naturally form cup shapes that make wrapping easy and add a refreshing crunch. Butter lettuce can also be used, but it is softer and more delicate.
2. Does P.F. Chang’s use ground chicken or diced chicken?
P.F. Chang’s uses finely diced chicken instead of ground chicken for better texture.
Diced chicken creates a slightly chunky filling that holds its shape and absorbs sauce well, while ground chicken can become too soft.
3. What is the “crunchy stuff” inside the filling?
The crunchy texture in lettuce wraps comes from water chestnuts, which stay crisp even after cooking.
They add a mild, slightly sweet crunch that balances the soft chicken filling.
4. What are the white crispy noodles served with lettuce wraps?
The white crispy noodles are fried rice vermicelli that puff up when deep-fried.
They are light, airy, and crunchy, and are usually served as a garnish to add texture.
5. How do I stop lettuce wraps from getting soggy?
Keep the filling and lettuce separate until just before serving to prevent soggy wraps.
Also, cook off excess liquid from the filling and avoid using too much sauce to keep the lettuce crisp.
6. Why is my lettuce wrap filling too watery?
Lettuce wrap filling becomes watery when excess moisture is released from vegetables or too much sauce is added.
Cook over medium-high heat and avoid overcrowding the pan so the liquid can evaporate properly.
7. Can I substitute hoisin sauce in lettuce wraps?
Yes, you can substitute hoisin sauce with a mix of soy sauce, peanut butter, and a little honey or brown sugar.
This creates a similar sweet and savory flavor, though the taste may vary slightly.
8. What can I use instead of water chestnuts?
You can replace water chestnuts with diced celery, jicama, or chopped nuts for a similar crunch.
These options provide a crisp texture, although the flavor may be slightly different.
9. Can I make lettuce wraps with ground turkey instead of chicken?
Yes, ground turkey is a great substitute for chicken in lettuce wraps.
It has a milder flavor and is typically lower in fat, making it a lighter alternative.
10. Are chicken lettuce wraps keto-friendly?
Chicken lettuce wraps can be keto-friendly if you use low-carb sauces and avoid added sugars.
Choose a low-carb hoisin alternative and make sure all ingredients fit within your daily carb limits.